Intrusion-prevention enclosure

ABSTRACT

An intrusion-prevention enclosure, of the type which comprises a plurality of modular panels, which can be mutually associated in an orderly and predefined manner so as to provide a barrier structure, and comprising a plurality of ground supporting uprights provided, substantially proximate to a respective upper end, with detachable engagement elements, which can engage in openings of the panels, for the facilitated assembly of the enclosure by a single operator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Intrusion-prevention enclosures are known which are used to prevent indiscriminate access to specific regions on the part of individuals, animals, vehicles or others; this need usually arises from two basic reasons: preventing uncontrolled access to locations where dangerous or discomfort-causing situations occur for assigned personnel (industrial ovens, presses, more or less rapidly rotating working parts, machines with optical, acoustic, inhalable, deafening emissions), or preventing intruders from removing or damaging products, devices or equipment on sale or in operation (theft, vandalism, unauthorized or dangerous uses).

These intrusion-prevention enclosures are usually constituted by mutually associated modular panels, which are installed on supporting means which can be fixed to the ground. In the particular field, the general trend is to provide enclosures which are easy and quick to assemble, but their assembly requires, in known commercially available types, the combined intervention of at least two operators, with corresponding high installation costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to meet the above-mentioned requirements, by providing an intrusion-prevention enclosure in which assembly is simple and can be performed even by a single operator, with lower installation costs and short execution times.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an enclosure which, thanks to its particular constructive characteristics, is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an enclosure which is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, effective in operation, and also competitive from an economic standpoint.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an intrusion-prevention enclosure, of the type which comprises a plurality of modular panels which can be mutually associated in an orderly and predefined manner so as to provide a barrier structure, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of ground supporting uprights provided, substantially proximate to a respective upper end, with detachable engagement means, which can engage in openings of said panels, for the facilitated assembly of said enclosure by a single operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an intrusion-prevention enclosure according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intrusion-prevention enclosure according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an anchoring element, associated with an upper end of an upright, of a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an anchoring element, associated with an upper end of an upright, of a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the detail IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the detail V of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the detail VI of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an intrusion-prevention enclosure, which comprises a plurality of modular panels 2, a plurality of uprights 3 provided, proximate to a respective upper end 3 a, with detachable engagement means for the panels 2, and comprises fixing means for detachably fixing the panels 2 to the uprights 3, for rapid assembly by a single operator of the panels 2 on the uprights 3 in a predefined and ordered manner, so as to provide a barrier structure which is arranged appropriately according to requirements.

The uprights 3 are provided with respective pedestals 4 for resting on the ground, are internally hollow along their entire length, and have a substantially square transverse cross-section; the panels 2 are each constituted by a plurality of vertical and horizontal rods 5, which are mutually associated so as to form a net, and the detachable engagement means can engage in openings of the panels 2, which are constituted by meshes 6 formed between the rods 5.

Advantageously, said engagement means comprise at least one substantially L-shaped wing 7, which is associated peripherally with the upper end 3 a of each upright 3, and preferably there are two pairs of wings 7, one pair for each of two adjacent sides 3 b of the upright 3; conveniently, the free side 7 a of each wing 7 is directed upward for the insertion in a respective upper mesh 6 of a panel 2, so as to support it hung from at least one upright 3, with the last horizontally arranged rod 5 rested on the second side 7 b of the wing 7, comprised between the upright 3 and the free side 7 a.

In a first embodiment, each upper end 3 a is rigidly provided peripherally with at least one wing 7 for supporting the panel 2 and preferably with two pairs of wings 7, one pair on each of two adjacent sides 3 b, as shown in FIG. 5; for example, the wings 7 can be provided by stamping or blanking, or can be constituted by contoured plates which are welded or fixed by means of screws to the upper ends 3 a of the uprights 3.

In a second embodiment, the enclosure 1 comprises a plurality of detachable anchoring elements 8, each associated with a respective upper end 3 a and provided peripherally with at least one wing 7 for supporting the panel 2. Each anchoring element 8 is provided, in an upper region, with at least one folded tab 9, which can be fitted in a cavity 10 of the upper end 3 a so as to substantially straddle it, for engagement to the upright 3. The cavity 10 substantially coincides with the open upper end 3 a of the hollow upright 3. As shown in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3, each anchoring element 8 is constituted by a plate 8 a which is substantially folded at 90°, each portion 8 b, 8 c of which preferably comprises two wings 7 and one folded tab 9.

The fixing means comprise a plurality of screw elements 11, which can be inserted in respective slots 12, which are distributed at predefined heights along each hollow upright 3, and a plurality of corresponding perforated plates 13 and closure nuts 14. Each one of the screw means 11 is substantially L-shaped and can be inserted with a first portion 11 a in a corresponding slot 12, from which it protrudes with a second threaded portion 11 b; each one of the plates 13 is affected by a hole 13 a for fitting on the second threaded portion 11 b, on which it is possible to screw the closure nut 14.

The nut 14, screwed onto the second threaded portion 11 b of the screw element 11, conveniently allows to fasten, between the plate 13 and the upright 3, two vertical lateral rods 5, each of a respective panel 2 of two converging panels, for detachably fixing the panels 2 to the uprights 3.

Advantageously, during the screwing of the nut 14 onto the second threaded portion 11 b, the first portion 11 a abuts inside the upright 3 against one of the sides 3 b which are adjacent to the side affected by the slot 12 for the insertion of the respective screw element 11, thus allowing to provide a rotation-preventing coupling and therefore allowing a single operator to fasten the panels 2 to the uprights 3.

Advantageously, each plate 13 comprises two mutually opposite folded edges 13 b, which prevent the rods 5 from accidentally disengaging.

Positively, the vertical rods 5 of the panels 2 are folded so as to form, on each panel 2, a regular distribution of horizontal folds 15 adapted to stiffen its structure.

In practical operation, a single operator, after arranging the uprights 3 at the selected distance, fastens the last upper horizontal rod 5 of each panel 2 to the wings 7 provided on the uprights 3, arranging each panel 2 between two respective uprights 3. The panels 2, which rest with their last horizontal rod 5 on the second side 7 b of the respective pairs of wings 7, thus hang by themselves from the uprights 3; in this manner, a single operator can fix the panels 2 to the uprights 3, by inserting the screw elements 11 in the respective slots 12 and then fastening the lateral vertical rods 5 of two converging panels 2 between the plates 13 and the uprights 3, by simply screwing the closure nut 14 onto the second threaded portion 11 b of each screw element 11.

Effectively, depending on the contingent requirements, it is possible to change, by reducing them, the dimensions of the panels 2, simply by cutting their rods 5 proximate to the intersections, until the selected size is obtained.

In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since the intrusion-prevention enclosure 1, advantageously constituted by a small number of components which can be assembled conveniently, can be installed easily and quickly by a single operator, with evident gains in economic terms and in terms of installation times.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent ones.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics which exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Terms as “upper” or “lower” are intended to only refer to the arrangement shown on the exemplary drawings and therefore will be interpreted as having no limiting effect on the subject-matter disclosed and/or claimed.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

The embodiment of the present invention shall be carried out in the most scrupulous compliance with the statutory and regulatory provisions related to the products of the invention or correlated thereto and following any required authorization of the corresponding competent authorities, with particular reference to regulations related to safety, environmental pollution and health.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art without thereby abandoning the scope of the protection of the appended claims.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO2005A000061 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. 

1. An intrusion-prevention enclosure, comprising a plurality of modular panels which are associatable to each other in an orderly and predefined manner so as to provide a barrier structure; a plurality of ground supporting uprights; and detachable engagement means, which are engageable in openings of said panels, that enable facilitated assembly of said enclosure by a single operator, said detachable engagement means being arranged substantially proximate to a respective upper end of said uprights.
 2. The intrusion-prevention enclosure of claim 1, wherein each one of said panels is constituted by a plurality of rods, which are mutually associated so as to form a grid, said detachable engagement means being engageable in meshes of said panel, so as to support the panel hung from at least one said uprights.
 3. The intrusion-prevention enclosure of claim 2, comprising fixing means for detachably fixing said panels to said uprights, said fixing means being arrangeable at preset heights along said uprights.
 4. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said engagement means comprise at least one wing, which is substantially L-shaped and associated peripherally with said upper end of each one of said uprights, said at least one wing having a free side directed substantially upward and adapted to be inserted in an upper mesh of each one of said panels.
 5. The enclosure of claim 1, comprising a plurality of detachable anchoring elements, each associated with a respective upper end and provided peripherally with at least one wing for supporting said panel, each said anchoring element being provided with at least one folded tab, which is suitable to be fitted in a cavity of said upright upper end, substantially so as to straddle the upper end for engagement with said upright.
 6. The enclosure of claim 5, wherein each one of said anchoring elements is constituted by a plate, which is substantially folded at 90°, each portion of the plate comprising a pair of said wings and one of said folded tabs.
 7. The enclosure of claim 4, wherein said upright upper end is provided with at least one peripherally rigidly coupled said wing for supporting said panel.
 8. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein said upright upper end is provided with a pair of said peripherally rigidly coupled wings on each one of at least two adjacent sides of said upright upper end.
 9. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein each one of said uprights is internally hollow and is provided with a plurality of slots, said fixing means comprising: at least one screw element, which is folded substantially in an L-shape and is insertable with a first portion thereof in at least one said slot that is provided at a predefined height along said hollow upright; at least one plate having at least one hole for fitting on a second threaded portion, which protrudes from said slot, of said screw element; and at least one closure nut, which is suitable to be screwed onto said second threaded portion for fastening between said plate and said upright at least one said rod of at least one said panel, for detachable fixing of said panel to said upright.
 10. The enclosure of claim 9, wherein during the screwing of said nut on said second threaded portion, said first portion abuts inside said upright against one of adjacent sides of said upright upper end which are adjacent to a side of said upright that is provided with said slots for insertion of said respective screw element, whereby to allow providing a rotation-preventing coupling and therefore allowing a single operator to fasten said panels to said uprights.
 11. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein said at least one plate comprises at least one folded edge, which is adapted to avoid the extraction of said rod.
 12. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein said at least one plate comprises two mutually opposite folded edges and is adapted to fasten to said upright two vertical lateral said rods, each one of said rods belonging to a respective panel of two converging panels.
 13. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said panels are of a type with a grid of rods and comprise a plurality of folds, which are distributed substantially horizontally and are adapted for structure stiffening. 